Verification/Approval of Massage Therapist’s Continuing Education Activities

At the time of license renewal and in a manner prescribed by the Board, each Massage Therapist shall attest under the pains and penalty of perjury to having satisfied the continuing education requirements as specified in 269 CMR 4.00. For each continuing education hour earned by participation in a continuing education program, a Massage Therapist must be able to provide documentation of the following (a) the title of the program or course; (b) the number of hours spent in the program or course; (c) the name of the Board-recognized entity or the academic institution that sponsored the program or course; (d) the date(s) of attendance; and (e) the location of the program or course or indication whether it was an online program. The Board may review or randomly audit the documentation of a Massage Therapist's continuing education activities and may request the documentation described in 269 CMR 4.02(1) through (2) for two prior licensure renewal/continuing education periods. The Board shall determine whether the activity/program documentation submitted meets all criteria for continuing education as specified in 269 CMR 4.00. (4) Continuing education activities which do not meet the requirements of 269 CMR 4.00 may be rejected in part or in whole by the Board. (5) Any incomplete or inaccurate documentation of continuing education may be rejected in part or in whole by the Board. (6) The Board may determine requirements to be fulfilled in order to allow a Massage Therapist who has not met the continuing education requirement to renew the license. (Mass. Register #1560, 11/7/2025) 4.02: continued Failure to complete or provide required documentation of completion of continuing education requirements may result in non-renewal of a license or disciplinary action for failure to respond to a communication from the Board pursuant to 269 CMR 3.05. (1) For a program to be eligible for approval for continuing education hours, the course content shall meet the subject matter criteria set forth in 269 CMR 4.01(2). (2) Course work meeting the requirements of 269 CMR 4.01(1) and endorsed or sponsored by the following organizations shall be deemed approved for continuing education hours: (a) American Massage Therapy Association; (b) Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals; (c) National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork; (d) Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards; (e) Alliance for Massage Therapy Education; (f) a Licensed Massachusetts Massage School pursuant to 269 CMR 4.00 and interpretive policies; or (i) any other nationally recognized provider of continuing education, determined to be acceptable to the Board. The Board may approve other continuing education course work that complies with 269 CMR 4.03(1) if the organization providing the course work submits to the Board the following information 90 days prior to commencement of the course: (a) name, date, and location of continuing education course work; (b) detailed description of the course content; (c) description of the educational objectives; (d) description of each instructor's education, training, and experience background; and (e) continuing education hours offered for completing the course. (g) any other nationally recognized provider of continuing education, determined to be acceptable to the Board. (4) The provider shall report any change in the course content or instructor to the Board prior to commencement of the course. (5) The Board shall revoke the approval of any continuing education course work for failure of the provider to comply with the provisions of 269 CMR 4.03. (1) The Board may waive continuing education requirements for any Massage Therapist who, for reasons of health, disability, out of state military service, or undue hardship, cannot meet the requirements. (2) An application for a waiver shall be submitted to the Board on a form provided by the Board. A waiver of continuing education requirements shall be effective for no more than one continuing education period (12 months prior to each renewal date). (4) After expiration of a waiver, a Massage Therapist may apply for one additional consecutive waiver. (5) If a temporary waiver is granted, the Massage Therapist shall comply with all continuing education requirements for all subsequent renewal periods, after such time that the waiver expires unless a subsequent waiver is granted. Any individual who wishes to appeal the decision of the Board regarding continuing education matters must submit a letter of appeal to the Board within 21 days of the receipt of the Board's decision. The applicant or licensee must supply the Board with any additional requested information and may be asked to appear before the Board. The Board reserves the right, upon request of licensee, to allow the licensee to practice massage therapy during the Board's appeals process.